On April 21, the National Wildlife Federation will sponsor a conference in Harrisburg about the Congressional reauthorization of the federal Farm Bill.

Farm Bill programs provide for protecting and improving fish and wildlife habitat, but the program has been historically under-funded.

For example, in 2004 nearly 75 percent of the applications from farmers and forest owners to participate in Farm Bill conservation programs were rejected due to lack of funds. Despite the lack of funding, Pennsylvania leads the nation in having 173,000 acres enrolled in the Conservation Reserve Enhancement Program.

Pennsylvania receives only 4 cents per dollar value of farm production from federal Farm Bill programs, while the national average is 9 cents and some large Midwest states receive 23 cents or more.

In February, a coalition of 16 conservation groups, headed up by the Theodore Roosevelt Conservation Partnership, released a report entitled: Growing Conservation in the Farm Bill.

Groups with diverse interests such as the National Wildlife Federation, Trout Unlimited, Pheasants Forever and Ducks Unlimited all found significant value in Farm Bill programs for fish and wildlife conservation.

Those interested in attending the conference and learning more about a fish and wildlife-friendly farm bill may contact NWF’s outreach person, Ed Perry at 814-880-9593 or email at paglobalwarmingoutreach@gmail.com

3/16/2007